Airport dining in australia 2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻

Our first post of 2025 and 5 thoughts on airport dining in Australia as we decompress from our “summer holiday” working for various major airports:

• Airports over the last five years have seen another flight, a flight to quality in food & airports keep getting better in terms of the overall travel experience.

• “Just pack your bag. We’ll pack your lunch”? From observations, an increased amount of food is taken on board. An opportunity for retailers who create easy-to-eat items.

• Diversity is an opportunity – we believe the core F&B offers are still generally focused on Anglo-European Australians, with some segments’ needs not being fully met. Other opportunities exist, e.g. acai, desserts, hydration, pop-ups such as Brooki @ Brisbane Airport.

• Overheard too frequently – passengers complaining about more keenly felt pricing. Effectively managing price perception has never been more important for retailers.

• Sustainability has become a differentiator – with over 50% of international airports now ACA accredited, Australian airports focusing on energy and waste reduction present opportunities for F&B operators to align with these initiatives through packaging, sourcing, and waste management.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴

3 “travel tips” for operators:

𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: Customers love convenience yet crave connection. Get better at being human - it is the critical differentiator.

𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁: Make sure chefs aren’t on autopilot. Deliver consistent quality while incorporating sustainable practices. Poor quality, unsustainable sourcing, or teeny tiny portions are not how people like to start a holiday

𝟯. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: Everyone is a stranger in this land. Remember what’s evident to you isn’t apparent to infrequent flyers, so explain how your venue works through signage or, better still, welcoming staff. Mi Casa Su Casa, etc.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆?

Based on results over the last few years of airport work, Foda Strategy recently benchmarked airport retailer delivery - if maximising the wider offer's appeal, ATV (Average Transaction Value), or sustainability credentials is on your radar, let's talk 'how to' around people, place, product & planet opportunities.

✈️ 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲: Want to know where to get the best coffee at any major Australian airport? Call Charles on 0403 571 901 or email charles@fodastrategy.com